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[Topic 100244]

Start application for the first time

The Kaspersky application starts on your Mac right after installation. To protect your Mac right away, the application prompts you to perform the basic setup:

  • Activate the application
  • Connect to My Kaspersky
  • Grant the necessary permissions to the application to protect your Mac against malware, network attacks and internet threats, and to protect your money, identity, and sensitive data.

    Grant permissions

    1. In the Essential Protection window, do the following to ensure that File Anti-Virus and Safe Browsing function properly:
      • If you want the Kaspersky application to work properly, allow the application to scan every file on your Mac. To do this, click Allow next to the Full disk access item and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • If you want the Kaspersky application to inspect URLs and network packets before they can harm your Mac, install the system extension. To do this, click Install next to the System extension item and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • If you want the system extension to work properly, allow network content filtering. To do this, click Allow next to the Network content filtering item and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • If you want the Kaspersky application to search for malware and internet threats in encrypted HTTPS traffic, allow encrypted web traffic inspection. To do this, click Allow next to the Encrypted web traffic inspection item and follow the instructions on the screen.

      Important: The Kaspersky application will not work properly without granting these permissions. You must grant all permissions in the Essential Protection window.

    2. Click Continue.

      The Additional Protection window opens.

    3. If you want the Kaspersky application to detect unsecured Wi-Fi networks and secure your connection, enable Location Services. To do this, click Enable Protection next to the Wi‑Fi Network Protection item and follow the instructions on the screen.
    4. If you want the Kaspersky application to check external disks' health, allow installation of the driver extension on macOS 15 or Kaspersky system software on earlier versions of macOS. To do this, click Install next to the External HD Health Monitor item and follow the instructions on the screen.
    5. If you want the Kaspersky application to warn you about dangerous websites and protect your sensitive information online, enable the Kaspersky Protection extension for browsers. To do this, click Enable Extension to enable the extension for Safari, or click Install to install and enable the extension for Google Chrome/Firefox, and follow the instructions on the screen.
    6. Click Continue.

    The main application window opens.

    For more information about the permissions you are granting, click .

Note: An internet connection is required for basic setup of the Kaspersky application.

See also

Enable and disable the Kaspersky Protection extension in selected browsers
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[Topic 198606]

Activate application

Important: Before activating the Kaspersky application, make sure that the date and time set on your computer match the actual date and time.

Activating the application involves adding a subscription and connecting the application to a My Kaspersky account.

Note: An internet connection is required to activate the application.

Activate the application if you already have a subscription in your My Kaspersky account

  1. Start the application.
  2. In the Choose Your Activation Mode window, select the Sign In to My Kaspersky button.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to activate the application with the subscription in your My Kaspersky account.

    The application connects to Kaspersky activation servers and sends data for verification. If verification is successful, the application receives and adds a license key for the subscription.

Activate the application with an activation code

  1. Open the main application window.
  2. In the bottommost pane of the main application window, click Profile.

    The Profile window opens.

  3. In the Profile window, enter the activation code that you received when purchasing the Kaspersky solution.
  4. Click Activate.

    Note: An activation code is a unique combination of twenty Latin letters and numbers in the form xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-ххххх.

    The application connects to Kaspersky activation servers and sends the activation code to verify its authenticity. If the activation code is successfully verified, the application automatically receives and adds the license key.

  5. Click Finish to complete activating the application.

    Note: You may need to connect to My Kaspersky to complete the activation.

    If activation code cannot be verified, a corresponding notification is displayed. In this case, contact the software vendor that supplied you with this activation code.

For more information about other activation options, see the Kaspersky Help for Windows application.

Activate the trial version if available

  1. Start the Kaspersky application.
  2. In the Choose Your Activation Mode window, select the Start Trial button.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to activate the application with the trial subscription.

    Note: You may need to sign in to My Kaspersky to finish the activation.

    The Kaspersky application connects to Kaspersky activation servers and sends data for verification. If verification is successful, the application receives and adds a license key for the free trial subscription.

    Important: A trial version of the Kaspersky application can be activated only if the application has not been previously activated on the computer.

After activating the application, you can find the following information in the Profile window:

  • Subscription status
  • Active key
  • Subscription expiration date and time
  • Number of days until your subscription expires
  • Number of devices currently protected by your subscription and the number of devices with which you can share protection

    Note: Some subscription plans may display only the information about the total number of devices that can be protected by your subscription.

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[Topic 58751]

Connect to My Kaspersky

Note: If you have signed in to My Kaspersky in another Kaspersky application on your Mac, the Kaspersky application prompts you to sign in to My Kaspersky using the same account after the application installation.

Sign in to My Kaspersky using your existing account

In the Sign In to My Kaspersky window, perform one of the following actions:

  • If you want to connect to My Kaspersky with your Google, Facebook, Apple, Yandex, or VK account, click the corresponding button and follow the instructions. For more details, see the My Kaspersky Help. If you don't have a My Kaspersky account yet, the application will prompt you to register on My Kaspersky.

    Note: The list of third-party services that are available for signing in to My Kaspersky depends on your region. For more details on restrictions in Russia, please see this article (available only in English and Russian).

  • If you have the login and password for your My Kaspersky account, enter your credentials and click Sign In.

    Note: If you enter the password incorrectly several times in a short period, you will need to enter characters from a picture to pass the security check.

    Note: If you have enabled two-step verification for your My Kaspersky account, you will need to enter a code received via an SMS message or generated in an authenticator app.

The Kaspersky application signs you in to the My Kaspersky account.

Important: If your version of the application has been downloaded from your My Kaspersky account that already has an applied activation code for the Kaspersky application and the subscription has not expired yet, the application will be activated automatically after you sign in to My Kaspersky.

Create a My Kaspersky account from the application interface

  1. In the Sign In to My Kaspersky window, click Create Account.

    The Create a My Kaspersky Account window opens.

    Note: If you enter an email address that is already in use, an incorrect email address, or a too common password several times in a short period, you will need to enter characters from a picture to pass the security check.

  2. In the email address field, enter the email address that you want to associate with your new My Kaspersky account.
  3. In the password field, enter the password for your new My Kaspersky account.

    Note: The password must contain a minimum of eight characters, including at least one digit, one lowercase letter, and one uppercase letter. Spaces are not allowed.

  4. In the password confirmation field, enter the password again.
  5. In the region selection pop-up menu, select your region.

    Note: The Kaspersky application automatically displays your region, based on the region set in your system's Language & Region settings. This option determines the regional settings for your My Kaspersky account, for example, the display language and available Kaspersky applications. You can change your region for My Kaspersky later only by contacting Customer Service.

  6. If you agree to provide Kaspersky with your email address for receiving informational and promotional email messages, select the I agree to provide Kaspersky with my email address to receive personalized marketing offers checkbox.
  7. Click Create.

The Kaspersky application connects to My Kaspersky and creates your account. After your account is created, an email message with instructions on account activation is sent to the email address that you specified during registration.

Switch to another My Kaspersky account

  1. Open the main application window and click <My Kaspersky account>.
  2. In the Profile window that opens, click Manage Account.

    The window for signing in to My Kaspersky opens.

  3. Enter the credentials of your My Kaspersky account.
  4. Click Sign In.

The Kaspersky application signs you in to the My Kaspersky account.

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[Topic 112738]

About two-step verification

Important: Two-step verification may be unavailable in your region. For more details, see the My Kaspersky Help.

Two-step verification prevents bad guys from signing in to your My Kaspersky account even if they know your password. To verify your identity, you will receive a unique security code in one of the following ways:

  • Via an SMS. We use the phone number you save on My Kaspersky. This means that both your password and your phone are needed to sign in to your account.
  • Via an authenticator app. You first need to set up two-step verification via your mobile phone number for the authenticator app feature to be available.

You can turn on two-step verification on My Kaspersky. If you change your phone number, you can update it on My Kaspersky. If you are already signed in to your account on a device, nothing will change for you. For detailed instructions, see the My Kaspersky Help.

Note: The security code is valid for a short period. If it expires, request another security code.

If you haven't received an SMS message with a security code

  1. Check whether your mobile device is turned on and your mobile network is available.
  2. Wait until the Request Code Again button becomes available.
  3. Click Request Code Again.

If the problem still persists, contact Customer Service.

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[Topic 180180]

Main application window

The main application window of Kaspersky contains interface elements that provide access to the main functions of the application. Here, you can view information about your computer protection status, manage scan tasks and your webcam, examine the state of your hard disks and smart home devices.

The main application window is divided into two parts:

  • The left part contains the sidebar, which lets you navigate the application and quickly access its main functions.
  • The central part displays the contents of the section selected in the sidebar and lets you manage data.

Sidebar

The sidebar of the main application window may have the following options:

Note: The availability of sidebar options depends on your subscription plan. Learn more.

Home Home

Click to open the Home page, which provides fast access to the application functionality.

Protection Status Protection Status

Click to view your computer protection status. Learn more.

Recommendations Recommendations

Click to find recommendations that will help you fix weak settings and maximize your computer security.

News News

Click to find the latest security news and special offers from Kaspersky.

Scan Scan

Click to manage scan tasks. Learn more.

Database Update Database Update

Click to manage update tasks. Learn more.

Web Control Web Control

Click to monitor and manage access to websites. Web Control is only available if you have activated the application with a Kaspersky Small Office Security activation code. If you change the activation code, Web Control will be replaced by Parental Control (China). Parental Control has the same functionality as Web Control. Learn more.

Smart Home Monitor Smart Home Monitor

Click to manage your smart home devices. Learn more.

HD Health Monitor HD Health Monitor

Click to examine the state of your hard disk and enable or disable regular hard disk checks. Learn more.

Privacy Protection Privacy Protection

Click to manage your privacy settings. Learn more.

Data Leak Checker Data Leak Checker

Click to find out if your data has been leaked. Learn more.

Premium Services Premium Services

Click to get premium support services (Kaspersky Premium only). Learn more.

Identity Theft Check Identity Theft

Click to find out if accounts associated with your phone number have been compromised (Kaspersky Premium only). Learn more.

Profile/ <My Kaspersky account>

Click to sign in to your

My Kaspersky
account or to view information about your subscription. Learn more.

Controls of the Home page

The Home page provides quick access to key application features and may contain the following controls:

Note: The availability of the controls shown in the Home page depends on your subscription plan. Learn more.

Protection Status

Informs you about computer protection problems. Learn more.

Scan

Allows to manage scan tasks. Learn more.

Block Webcam

Blocks access to your webcam to prevent any application from using it. Learn more.

Smart Home Monitor

Examines devices in your home Wi-Fi network (Kaspersky Plus and Premium only). Learn more.

Hard Disk Health Monitor

Examines the state of your hard disks and enable or disable regular hard disk checks (Kaspersky Plus and Premium only). Learn more.

Private Browsing

Allows to block websites from tracking you. Learn more.

Timeline

Informs you about application activity. Learn more.

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[Topic 58162]

Open and quit the application

As soon as you complete installation, the application starts automatically and the application icon appears in the menu bar.

Open the application

In the menu bar, click the application icon.

Quit the application

  1. In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Quit.
  2. In the prompt for administrator credentials, enter an administrator name and password and confirm that you want to quit the Kaspersky application.

    Note: You can also use Touch ID, if your device supports it.

When you quit the application, the application process is removed from computer memory.

Important: After you quit the Kaspersky application, the computer is no longer protected and may become infected, which puts your data at risk of being lost.

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[Topic 58262]